Phyllis Beth Topping passed away on May 13, 2023, at the age of 89 from complications of Alzheimer's disease at her residence in Yorba Linda, California. She was preceded in death by Kenneth Clarke Topping, her beloved spouse of 64 years, on March 5, 2021. She is survived by her sons, David and Bruce Topping, David's wife Jody, grandchildren Ryan Topping and Erika Hoffman, great-grandchildren Anderson and Paige Topping, nephews Richard Fridell and Bayete Henderson, niece Nancy Acosta, and many others in their respective extended families.

Born on November 6, 1933, in Sherwood (Defiance County), Ohio to Ralph and Margaret Brewer, Phyl had one sibling, Rebecca Bobele, who passed away in 1995. Early in Phyl's life, the Brewer family moved to Covina, CA, where her parents eventually owned and operated an egg ranch. Phyl graduated from Covina High School in 1952, where she was active on the school yearbook staff, drama, tennis, and received high academic honors. She moved to Redlands, CA to attend the University of Redlands, where she majored in English and met the love of her life, Ken Topping. Shortly after graduation in 1956, they married in Redlands and began their wonderful 64-year collaboration.

Ken and Phyl spent their first year together at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where Ken pursued post-baccalaureate studies. They then returned to California, settling in Covina, where Phyl's parents and sister still resided. In the first three years of their marriage, they were blessed with their two sons, and Ken diverted from his intended career as a marriage counselor and started working for LA County in downtown Los Angeles as a regional planner from 1957 to 1973. His career in planning then took them back to Redlands, while he served as Director of Planning for San Bernardino County. During that time, Phyl worked for San Bernardino Valley College, and then accepted a position with the San Bernardino County Courts, gradually increasing in responsibilities and recognition for her excellent work.

In 1986, Ken was appointed as Director of City Planning for Los Angeles, so the couple moved to Pasadena, eventually living just above the Rose Bowl. Ken's subsequent employment was located in the Central Coast region of California, so they bought a house in Cambria, where they would spend most of the rest of their lives.

Phyl's interests included writing, hiking & camping, walking, social justice and politics, and she loved both making and enjoying different types of music. She picked up the flute at an early age and remained involved in music throughout her life, including playing in a family folk music group, and provided important support to both her sons as they pursued successful careers in music teaching and performance.

She will be remembered for the loving care that she generously provided to both friends and family throughout her life. Her selfless support of Ken's career enabled him to accomplish great things, and as a team, they truly made a positive difference in the lives they touched and in the world around them.

In lieu of making donations to a specific charity in memory of Phyl, the family asks only that people make conscious efforts to be respectful, caring, and loving of one another and the environment, attributes exemplified by her life in helping to create a more peaceful and sustainable world for future generations. A celebration of both Phyl's and Ken's lives will be held at a time and place to be determined by the family.